Chapter 35

The man was not only tall but also strong. Although he didn’t press Lu Yu hard enough to hurt him, Lu Yu couldn’t move.

Lu Yu took a deep breath, forcing himself to stay calm. “Tai Lie, what are you doing?”

Tai Lie’s expression was icy. “Answer me.”

Lu Yu struggled to move slightly. “Answer what?”

Tai Lie’s arm tightened. “Don’t move.”

Lu Yu retorted, “Then let go of me.”

Tai Lie had no intention of letting him go. “Lu Yu, how many lies have you told?”

Lu Yu choked up.

Alright, he had indeed lied, and quite a lot, especially about Witch. Most of it was just made up.

But how could he explain the concept of a game panel? Would they consider him a heretic if he said he had traveled from thousands of years in the future?

He knew that genuine interactions between people required honesty. Tai Lie and the others had been completely transparent with him, even telling him about the genocide. They had listened to him on many decisions, which was very sincere.

But Lu Yu still felt a bit aggrieved. “Regardless of whether I’ve lied or not, have I ever harbored ill intentions towards you?”

Tai Lie furrowed his brow. “Lu Yu, what I meant wasn’t that.”

Lu Yu’s voice lowered, sounding like a mosquito’s hum. “Then what are you saying…”

Before the person behind him could speak, Lu Yu added, “Tai Lie, I’ve made it clear. I really don’t like men.”

Tai Lie didn’t back down. “I’ve never liked men before either. So, what I’m asking isn’t whether you like men or not, but whether you have feelings for me.”

His voice grew even deeper. “That’s the only thing. Don’t lie to me.”

Lu Yu kept silent, his fingernails digging into his flesh as he clenched his fists.

Tai Lie was about to make a move when there was a series of knocks on the door, sounding urgent, as if someone was about to barge in at any moment.

Tai Lie frowned, released his grip, and turned to open the door.

Standing outside was the expressionless Cha Zhe.

“What’s the matter?” Tai Lie’s voice was as cold as ice.

Cha Zhe grinned, revealing his gleaming white teeth. “I’m looking for Lu Yu. Is he here with you?”

Tai Lie hadn’t spoken yet, but Lu Yu peeked out from behind him. “I’m here!”

Cha Zhe’s smile widened, cheerful as the sunshine. “Witch, so you’re here!”

“Yes, I came to talk to the Chief about something.” Lu Yu politely addressed Tai Lie. “Please excuse me.”

Tai Lie hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside to let him pass.

“Chief, you should rest. I’ll be on my way.” Lu Yu walked over, not waiting for Tai Lie’s reaction, and directly pulled Cha Zhe away.

—

Lu Yu and Cha Zhe walked through the village.

Cha Zhe, seemingly curious, asked, “Witch, it’s late. What were you doing at the Chief’s place?”

Lu Yu felt a bit annoyed and casually replied, “Kids shouldn’t ask so many questions.”

Cha Zhe’s eyes darkened for a moment. “So, these are things kids shouldn’t ask about.”

Lu Yu’s heart skipped a beat, feeling guilty. “No…”

“What did you want to see me about?”

“Oh,” Cha Zhe didn’t dwell on the previous question, “I want to ask if I can participate in that dream training.”

Lu Yu didn’t hesitate. “Sure.”

He had considered this before. After all, Cha Zhe wasn’t a Matai person, so Lu Yu couldn’t trust him as much as he trusted them. However, based on their interactions these past few days, Cha Zhe seemed fine. He worked diligently and got along well with the others, especially the kids. So, when he mentioned the dream training, Lu Yu didn’t exclude him.

“Thanks, Witch!” Cha Zhe smiled.

Lu Yu said, “Don’t thank me. The training will be tough. After you’re trained, you’ll also have to hunt and defend.”

Actually, Lu Yu was just speaking casually. Although Cha Zhe was an evolved species, in terms of physical fitness, he was just an ordinary person. Lu Yu wasn’t crazy enough to let a child go hunting to fend off enemies.

But Cha Zhe took it seriously. “Alright, if Chief treats you badly in the future, I’ll take you away and protect you, and I’ll give you meat to eat.”

Lu Yu didn’t like hearing this. “The Chief treats me very well. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Cha Zhe stared at his expression for a moment, then lowered his eyelids. “I understand.”

Lu Yu said, “Alright, let’s go back and rest. The dream training starts tonight.”

Lu Yu found that in the dream training field, he could summon the game panel to choose the main control room, where he could return to the surrounding white fog, with only a small wooden house hanging a sign indicating the main control room.

There, he could check the number of people training, the training projects, and their status. He could also choose to join someone else’s dream and train with them. However, there was no personal training field for him.

Standing in the main control room, Lu Yu looked at the transparent game panel, and suddenly a strange feeling arose within him.

It was as if he were playing one of those old-fashioned simulation games… arranging his drawn characters to learn skills and such.

Lu Yu chuckled. If that were the case, then he must have been extremely lucky with his card draws, as all the Matai people were SSR-ranked.

After viewing the combat training field, Lu Yu then chose the skill training field.

Besides having Shan Pu and the others go to the combat training field tonight, Lu Yu also discussed with Xia Cao to have her check out the skill training field. So, now the panel could show not only the situation in the combat training field but also in the skill training field.

Several lines of text appeared on the panel:

[Beginner Skill Training Field]

[Number of Participants: 2]

[Current Training Projects: Pottery/Sewing/Construction/Weapons]

[Note: All manufacturing skills are low-level]

[Please choose the open projects]

Lu Yu pondered for a moment.

So, the skill training field now only included manufacturing items. According to the note, it seemed that they were still only producing very primitive items, which was quite suitable for their current situation.

In the end, Lu Yu selected all of these projects.

If everything went well, he could let the people from the basin enter the training field tomorrow.

After making his selection, Lu Yu walked out of the small wooden house to find Xia Cao…

Lu Yu took a stroll around before noting down all the projects.

Pottery included grinding stone and firing clay, which were everyday bowls and pots.

Sewing included processing animal hides, weaving grass shoes, and sewing leather bags.

Construction included building simple grass houses, wooden houses, and stone houses.

Weapons included making basic weapons such as stone spears, wooden shields, stone axes, and crude bows.

The next day, Lu Yu woke up early.

Before waking up, he had stopped all the projects in the dream training field.

He had calculated that last time, he and Tai Lie had trained for a full eight hours inside. When he was exhausted and exited, he glanced at the moon, which was still high in the sky. It was probably around one or two in the morning. It seemed that the time flow rate in the training field was approximately 2:1 compared to reality.

However, Lu Yu still didn’t dare to let them train all night long. Although the Matai people retained their strong physical characteristics in the dream, it was still better to let them sleep for a few hours.

Lu Yu walked out the door.

The Matai people were excitedly sitting together discussing.

“I was so scared last night, but thankfully Witch told us beforehand…”

“You’re such a coward! But who knew there were so many fighting techniques!”

“Yeah, I learned a lot last night!”

“I definitely learned more than you!”

“I don’t believe it! Let’s compare then!”

“Let’s do it!”

Listening to their conversation, Lu Yu thought they were arguing and quickly stepped forward to stop them. “No fighting!”

Shan Pu chuckled. “Witch, it’s okay, we’re just having a friendly competition.”

Lu Yu sighed. “…Alright. So, how was your training last night?”

Lu Yu had spent last night studying the skill training field with Xia Cao and hadn’t gone to see the combat training field.

Shan Pu scratched his head, “I feel like I learned a lot, but this morning, it’s all fuzzy, and I’ve forgotten some things.”

The two who were just about to compete didn’t do it anymore and stood obediently on the side, feeling ashamed. “We… we were just…”

Lu Yu comforted them, “It’s okay, it’s normal, and it’s only the first night. Oh right, Shan Pu, I want to discuss something with you.”

Shan Pu asked, “What is it?”

Lu Yu said, “I’ll go hunting with you guys today.” He was planning to use up the refreshed navigation function usage.

Shan Pu was about to agree, but suddenly remembered, “But, Chief won’t be with us today, and you…”

Lu Yu shook his head, “I won’t be with Chief today. You guys can take me with you.”

Although Shan Pu didn’t understand why, he wouldn’t refuse Lu Yu. “Alright…”

After breakfast, Lu Yu went hunting with Shan Pu and the others.

Tai Lie knew Lu Yu wouldn’t be going with him, but he didn’t stop him, just giving Shan Pu a deep look.

“Protect him.”

Shan Pu stood up straight and loudly replied, “Got it!”

Lu Yu used the navigation function to find weapons this time.

Considering the theory that repeated hunting in the same area would reduce the drop rate, which he had verified on the Beast Plains before, Lu Yu chose prey a little further away this time.

“Witch, it’s lions!” Shan Pu whispered from behind a rock.

Lu Yu quietly glanced over and found these lions somewhat familiar, resembling the group he encountered on the day he met the Matai people and fought the mammoths.

Especially the leading male lion, with a bald patch on its back due to a large scar, Lu Yu remembered quite clearly.

But that place should be far from here, so how did these lions end up here?

However, this might be a good opportunity…

“Witch, should we attack?” Shan Pu rubbed his hands together eagerly.

It wasn’t yet the hunting time for lions, so they were lazily lying down, napping.

Lu Yu frowned, “Wouldn’t there be too many?”

Shan Pu didn’t mind, “There are a few, but it’s okay. I can lure away a group, and then you guys can catch the rest!”

Lu Yu wasn’t reassured, “But these are lions. Can you outrun them?”

Shan Pu patted his chest, “No problem!”

“Witch, you hide here, I’ll go lure the lions away, and then you guys can catch the rest. Don’t worry, we’ve done it like this before!”

“Okay, then I’ll wait here for you,” Lu Yu couldn’t think of a better plan for now and agreed since Shan Pu seemed confident. He took out a red pill from his ring, “This is a pill. Keep it with you. If you get injured, take it immediately.”

“Got it!”

Shan Pu took the pill, put it in his mouth, and pulled out his small dagger, then dashed out like the wind.

The lions soon noticed the intruder. Seeing only one person, they growled and pounced toward Shan Pu.

Shan Pu smoothly turned a corner and led them to another location.

Since there was only Shan Pu, not all the lions mobilized, and even the bald male lion didn’t move.

Seeing that some lions had run far away, Cheng Ping quietly said to Lu Yu, “Witch, let’s go.”

Lu Yu nodded, “Be careful.”

Cheng Ping led the other Matai people to attack the remaining lions.

While they were hunting, Lu Yu wasn’t idle. He opened the game panel.

He had searched for these lions before, but who knew how long the search effectiveness of this game panel lasted. It was better to search again just in case.

Sure enough, the drop was still a battle axe.

Lu Yu searched from left to right one by one. By the time the battle started, he had finished searching.

But, something seemed off…

Lu Yu frowned, muttering to himself, something suddenly flashed in his mind.

Right, where’s the bald male lion?! He didn’t find it during the search just now!

Lu Yu’s heart raced.

Unfortunately, just as he thought of this, he felt a strange movement behind him…